Division I Women

Fairfield Women Advance to MAAC Title Game

from press release

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The top-seeded Fairfield
University women's lacrosse team overcame a slow start to advance
to its second consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
Lacrosse League title game with a 20-8 win over #4 Manhattan
College. The Stags improve to 15-2 on the year, while the Jaspers
fall to 11-5.

Erin Rigby led the Stags offense with eight points, dishing out a
career-high five assists, the third-highest single-game total in
program history. Kristen Coleman had sevnet points, netting five
goals. Abbey Goodwin had her best statistical day of the season,
with four goals and an assist, while Brittany Bare netted a hat
trick, including the game-winner.

Manhattan controlled play for the first 12:48, scoring on five of
its first-seven shots, to take a 5-2 advantage. The three-goal
deficit is the largest the Stags have face against a MAAC foe this
season. The Stags offense struggled during that same span, netting
just 2-7 from the field.

The Stags offense got on track with just under 16 minutes to play,
as Abbey Goodwin scored a pass from Erin Rigby to make it 5-3 and
begin the comeback. Fairfield scored the next five goals, netting
seven of its final 13 shots in the half, to build an 8-5 halftime
advantage.

Fairfield picked up where it left off in the second half, scoring
six straight to open the half and extend their run to 12-0. Bare
netted a Goodwin pass 19 seconds into the second half, the eventual
game-winner, to start a run of six goals in the first 7:19 of the
half, to open a 14-5 advantage.

Manhattan did not score for over 27 minutes, until Chrissy
Gutenberger scored a free position goal with 19:54 to play in the
game. Rigby put in her third of the game 84 seconds later to push
the lead back to nine, 15-6. Bare pushed the lead to double-digits
with her third tally of the game, with just over 19 minutes to play
in the game. The Stags took their largest lead of the game, 20-7 on
a Rebecca White goal with 8:20 to play.

Lauren Chatnik earned the win in net for the Stags with a
seven-save, seven-goal effort over 57:30. Kelley Bradey made a
save, and allowed the final Jasper goal, in her 2:30 of action.
Allison Brown made 15 saves in net for the Jaspers and played the
entire game.

Fairfield dominated the draw on the day, winning 23-30 and out shot
Manhattan, 45-23. The Stags were good on 15-17 clear attempts and
4-9 free position chances. Fairfield committed one additional foul,
28-27, in the game, and two more turnovers, 19-17.

Fairfield advances to the title game of the MAAC Championship on
Sunday, April 26, at noon, and will face the winner of the second
semifinal between #2 Canisius and #3 Marist.